Integral stud and bracket standard

ABSTRACT

A stud and wall assembly constructed therewith for supporting shelf brackets and the like, the stud having as an integral part thereof, both a slotted flange for engaging shelf brackets, and as an extension of the flange, flat surfaces for engaging partition members which make up the wall. The slotted portion of the flange may be recessed within the stud or projected therefrom, so as to conceal or expose, respectively, the slotted portion. Additional bracket-supporting hooks can be extruded as part of the flange. The over-all cross-sectional configuration of most of the embodiments of the stud is an H-shaped configuration.

Sttes Patent [191 INTEGRAL STUD AND BRACKET STANDARD lnventor: NelsNelsson, Des Plaines, 111.

United States Gypsum Company, Chicago, 111.

Filed: Sept. 12, 1972 Appl. No.: 288,449

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 79,580, Oct. 9, 1970,Pat. No. 3,712,015.

Assignee:

, References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Stephenson et a1... 248/243 XBianchi 248/243 X Schwartz 52/481 X 1451 May 14, 1971 PrimaryExaminer-Price C. Faw, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stanton T. Hadley;Dana M. Schmidt; Kenneth E. Roberts 57] ABSTRACT A stud and wallassembly constructed therewith for supporting shelf brackets and thelike, the stud having as an integral part thereof, both a slotted flangefor engaging shelf brackets, and as an extension of the flange, flatsurfaces for engaging partition members which make up the wall. Theslotted portion of the flange may be recessed within the stud orprojected therefrom, so as to conceal'or expose, respectively, theslotted portion. Additional bracket-supporting hooks can be extruded aspart of the flange. The overall cross-sectional configuration of most ofthe embodiments of the stud is an H-shaped configuration.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures p nzm nmmsm I ii-3 810 340 sum 1 BF 2 IINTEGRAL STUD AND BRACKET STANDARD This is a divisional of applicationSer. No. 79,580, filed Oct. 9, 1970, now Patent No. 3,712,015.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional drywall constructions providefor the wall attachment of shelves and other heavy articles generally bythe location of bracket standards in conjunction with the joint of twowallboards and the stud mounting these wallboards. This isnecessitatedby the inability of the wallboards to support a significantload directly, and also by the convenience and occassional necessity ofmounting the wallboards so as to be removable or demountable without thebrackets having been attached directly thereto. On the other hand, thestrength and general permanence of the supporting web portion of thestuds have permitted the standards to be structurally attached to and/ordependent thereupon, but only as separate articles independentlymanufactured.

Thus, the bracket standard has heretofore generally been a separatemember which is mounted in place with the stud only by the use of alarge number of components. For example, one construction requires,apart from the wallboard panels and shelf brackets, two

studs, two separate bracket standards, two fillers, and

S-shaped web, support channels for the studs, four metal edges for thewallboard panels, and four screws mounting the panels in place; in all17 components. In the construction utilizing these parts, all but thescrews and metal edges must be mounted between the two studs which areto support the four panels. Such a construction puts a premium onminiaturization as the studs so joined must preferably have a minimumlongitudinal extension. Such miniaturization and a large collection ofparts complicate the assembly, making it tedious, time consuming, andexpensive at best.

Yet another conventional bracket standard requires it to be attachedafter the wall has otherwise been assembled. Such independent erectionof the standard is time consuming and may depend, for successfulerection, upon accurate placement of the standard with respect to thenow-covered studs. For example, it may be necessary to screw-attach thestandard to the stud underneath the wallboard. Where considerableeffortis made, aslin many cases,.to hide the joints on the finished wallassembly with a filler, the later accurate location of the studs maybecome a guessing game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION provided a stud having a central supporting webportion and a flange or a pair of oppositely directed adjcent flangesextending at an angle therefrom, the improvement featuring a portion ofthe flange one of the flanges, having vertically spaced therealong meansfor removably accommodating shelf brackets. The integral stud andstandard combination is provided in a variety of different studconfigurations, most of which generally have an H-shaped cross-sectionalconfiguration. This variety essentially eliminates the need for adaptorcomponents for other types ofv studs. Means are also provided at atleast one integral extension of the flange to engage the partitionmembers comprising the wall, the engaging means being especially shapedand dimensioned to support the partition members without the use ofadditional components such as screws.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a bracketsupporting stud and a demountable wall assembly utilizing this stud tomount brackets wherein a reduced number of component parts is necessaryfor the assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a stud and assemblywherein the bracket standard is an integral part of the stud, regardlessof the particular type of stud involved.

It is a related object of the invention to provide such a stud and wallconstruction formed thereby which are inexpensive to manufacture andsimple to install.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a stud and thewall construction assembled therefrom which will permit the standardportion of the stud to be concealed or exposed, as desired.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a stud and wallconstruction wherein the completion of the assembly of the wallcomponents automatically provides for the incorporation of brackets.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent on reference to thefollowing drawings and detailed discussion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partiallybroken away perspective view of a demountable wall constructed inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, sectioned elevational view illustrating theassembly of the wall at the floor runner;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line IIIIII ofFIG. 2, the runners and the shelf brackets having been eliminated forclarity;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary and elevational view of the stud and wall shownin FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3 butillustrating another alternate embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, thedemountable wall assembly 20 of the invention features conventionalceiling and floor runners 22 and 28, the former having two generallyparallel track portions 24 adapted to removably engage partition members26 therewithin. By partition member, it is meant any drywall wallboardor the like, of any convenient type and size, laminated or unlaminated,a preferable form being paper and/or vinyl covered cast gypsum board theedges of which may or may not be reinforced. By the word engage" and itsother forms, it is meant an interrelationship between two parts eitherone of which, or both, are especially shaped or formed for thatparticular relationship. This meaning is to be contrasted with themeaning for the word interengage and its other forms, which word isintended in which both parts are so especially formed.

The outwardly facing surface 27 of the board which is to be exposed whenthe wall is assembled may or may not have special decorative effectsthereon.

The floor runner 28 conventionally engages the bottom edges 29 of thewallboard 26 by means of screws 30 which pass through both the runnerand the partition members and also through external metal clips 32. Abase 34 can be used to cover the screw-attached bases. The structuralsupport of the partition members 26 is provided by studs 35 and 40. Theformer are conventional metallic channels which support the interiorsurfaces of the partition members 26 either removably or by adheringthereto by means of adhesive. Conventional brackets such as shelfbrackets 36 are associated with the wall assembly 20 at the jointsthereof for supporting loads. It will be readily appreciated thatbrackets performing other functions, such as the mounting of cabinets,can also be used and mounted in a manner more fully describedhereinafter.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention the brackets 36 aredirectly inserted into and directly structurally supported andaccommodated by the studs 40 without the need for a separate standard.This is accomplished by combining into a single piece the standard andthe structure which engages the partition members. Preferably, this isaccomplished in a manner which will now be discussed. Turning now toFIGS. 3 and 4, the particular embodiment shown therein comprises a stud40 having a central vertically extending supporting web portion 42,having legs or flanges 44 and 46 integrally extending from opposite edgeportions 48 of the web portion at an angle thereto. Specifically, eachof the flanges 44 and 46 extends beyond bothsides of the web portiongenerally perpendicular thereto and parallel to each other so as to giveto the stud 40 a generally l-l-shaped cross-sectional configuration. Avportion 60 of the flanges located at a point between the ends or edges62 of the flanges is provided with vertically spaced slots 64 which areespecially positioned and shaped to accomodate the brackets 36. Theslots 64 are necessarily offset from the web portion. To engage themembers 26, the ends 62 are especially positioned and shaped toaccomodate the brackets 36. The slots 64 are necessarily offset from theweb portion 42 a slight amount to permit the end of the bracket to beinserted thereinto. The amount of offset is not critical; for example,the inside edge of the slot can be flush with the web portion. To engagethe members 26, the ends 62 are especially provided with a flat innersurface 66 which abuts the outwardly facing surface 27 of the partitionmembers. The engagement of the members 26 by the stud 40 is completed bya second set of flanges 68 and 70 which project from both sides of webportion 42 at the edges 48 thereof generally parallel to flanges 44 and46 but spaced interiorly therefrom an amount which will just accomodatethe thickness of a partition member. Each of the flanges 68 and 70 has aflat reinforcing surface 72 which abuts against the interior surface ofthe member 26, thus forming with flanges 44 and 46 a track-like memberthe two parts of which accomodate the partition member 26. The spacingof the flanges 44, and 68 and 70 defines a leg in the edge 48 the lengthof which must not be a greater than the thickness of the partitionmembers 26. The member 26 is thus engaged so that the slotted portion 60projects outwardly from the plane of surface 72. The abutting surfaces66 and 72 are thus covered, while, as shown in FIG. 1, the slottedportion 60 of the flanges 44 and 46 are exposed. A shoulder 74 projectsfrom the surface 72 into the partition member accommodating space toterminate the insertion of the member 26 short of the space reserved forthe end of the bracket 36.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, to permit unusedslotted portions 60 to be covered, the opposite, exposed surface of theends 62 of the flanges 44 and 46 include projecting ridges 78. Awallboard tape of conventional material such as vinyl and which isdimensioned to fit between said ridges is thus removably held in placeby a backing over those slots 64 which are not intended to supportbrackets.

Thus, the above-described embodiment preferably has a plane of symmetrywhich extends longitudinally through the approximate center 86 of theweb portion 42, so that the opposite edge portions 48 and all theflanges extending therefrom are mirror images of each other.Specifically, flange 46 is the mirror image of flange 44, having theidentical function of interengagement with, and support of brackets, andengagement with opposite partition members. This mirror imageconstruction simplifies installation as no one end or one side of thestud is unique or requires a specified location.

The stud 40 shaped in the above fashion is preferably metallic, andtherefore can be manufactured by a variety of techniques, of whichextrusion is one example.

The assembly of the components to form the wall assembly 20 as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 requires simply the mounting of an end stud 40 withrespect to the floor or ceiling runner, and the placement of the firstpartition members 26 in an oppositely positioned pair which are engagedwithin the first stud and the ceiling runner 22. After the first members26 are fixed to the floor runner, the next stud is engaged with the edgeof the first sections 26, and the process repeated. As shown in FIG. 2,it is not necessary that the stud 40 be fixed such as by screws to thefloor runner 28. Instead, the stud need only be mounted thereabove,preferably resting upon the base 34.

Because of the aforedescribed construction wherein the standard is anintegral part of the stud, the parts necessary to mount the bracketshave been considerably reduced, resulting in a substantial savings ofmanufacturing cost and time of assembly. The elimination of componentsheretofore used to adapt the standards to the studs also avoids the needfor miniaturization. Instead, the stud 40 provides all of thesupporting, attaching, and bracket-engaging functions heretoforeprovided by the stud, said components, and a bracket standard,respectively. Furthermore, the assembly of the complete wall thusautomatically and readily provides the bracket standards for the supportof brackets, should they be needed at a later date.

FIG. 5 illustrates a form of the stud which is closely allied to the oneof the floating studs disclosed and claimed in my copending US.application Ser. No. 77,997, filed on Oct. 9, 1970, now Patent No.3,732,657. Parts similar to those previously described bear the samereference numeral to which the distinguishing suffix e" has been added.Thus stud 40e is characterized by a single partition-memberinterengaging flange 44c, the extension of which is the only portionespecially shaped and dimensioned to fit within the kerf 142 of thepartition member 26e. Thus the stud 40e interengages only one suchpartition member, permitting selective assembly and disassembly of thewall 20e without disturbing other neighboring partition members. Theextension 150e is shortened compared 'to the previous embodiments, so asto comprise solely the slotted portion 60a. Yet another difference instud 4-0e is the provision of a surface 170 at the edge 48e of the webportion 428 which is especially shaped and adapted so as to rest againstand abut in a supportive, non-interengaging fashion, the back surface ofthe opposite partition member. As shown, the surface 170 is preferably aflange of short length bent at the edge 48c so as to be properly spacedfrom the flange 44:2, i.e., spaced a distance approximately equal to thedistance from the midpoint of one side of the wall 202 to the backsurface of the opposite side of the wall. A knockout tab 172 may be usedto reinforce the back surface of the member 26c, but it is notessential.

Because the stud 40e is interengaged with only one partition member, itis necessary that a second stud 180 be positioned adjacent to stud 40egenerally back-toback therewith to interengage the adjacent partitionmember forming that side of the wall 20:2. The stud 180 is preferablyidentical with one of the embodiments shown and claimed in my aforesaidcopending application. Accordingly, the specification of thatapplication is incorporated herewith. The stud 180 can thus becharacterized as having a kerf-engaging flange 182 projecting at anangle from the web portion 184, and generally perpendicular thereto. Aknock-out tab 186 reinforces the back surface of the partition member26e interengaged by the stud 180. A second flange 190 projecting fromthe edge portion of the web 184 opposite to the flange 1182 andgenerally parallel to that flange provides the same limited function asdoes flange 170 for the stud 40e.

The extension 1502 of the flange 44e of necessity must be spaced from,or at least not covered by, the flange 182 of the stud 180. Accordingly,the two studs 40e and 180 are preferably spaced apart'by a shim orchannel 200 to which one of the studs may be anchored. If it is desiredthat selective removal of a partition member not be possible, the shim200 may be anchored to both the studs by a single bolt (not shown).

It will thus be recognized that, in accordance with yet another aspectof the invention, a great variety of differently shaped studs can beprovided wherein the bracket standard is an integral part thereof. Theslotted portion supporting the brackets can be exposed or covered. Evenstuds each of which is adapted to interengage only a single partitionmember can be so constructed. Thus, the invention is suitable in avariety of construction assemblies so that the attendant savings inmanufacturing cost and time of assembly can be extended to manydifferent types of wall construction.

Although this application sets forth certain preferred embodiments, itis not intended that the invention be limited thereto. Rather, it isintended that the invention cover all alternatives, alternatearrangements, and embodiments as may be included within the scope of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as exclusive property is:

1. In a stud for assembly in a demountable wall construction withpartition members, said stud having a single sole supporting web portionand a pair of oppositely directed adjacent flanges each extending at anangle from one edge of said web portion; the improvement comprising onlyone of said flanges having accommodating means spaced verticallytherealong and offset from said web portion for removably accommodatingbrackets, and means associated with only the other of said flanges forengaging said stud with at least one of said members.

2. The improved stud as defined in claim 1, wherein said accommodatingmeans include vertically spaced slots in said flange portion especiallypositioned and shaped to accommodate brackets inserted therein.

3. The improved stud as defined in claim 1, wherein the edge of the webportion opposite to said one edge includes a single flange extendingtherefrom at an angle to provide a supporting surface for a partitionmember opposite to the member engaged by said stud.

TED STATES: PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF COECTIUN Patent no. -3,810;-3uoDated Mav 1 4. 197 4 Inventofls) Nels Nelsson It is certified theirerror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersParental-e hereby corrected as shownbelow:

Column 1, line j l, after "miniaturization", insert a comma Colu'mri 1,lim": 65, after "flange", insert ,or Column 1, 'l'ine'6'6, after"flanges", omit the comma Column 115a 57, member, Should read member" sC lHIflRhfli '3amf'meniberiT ShQlJlQIQELd V mem er- Signed and sealedthis 19th day of November 1974 MEAL) Airieetw MQGQY Mw GIBSON JR c.MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer I Commissioner of Patents a FORM Po-1050(10-69) I I USCOMM-DC e0s7e=|=a9 v U,$4 GOVERNMENT PRlNTING OFFICE: I989O-365-S$4,

1. In a stud for assembly in a demountable wall construction withpartition members, said stud having a single sole supporting web portionand a pair of oppositely directed adjacent flanges each extending at anangle from one edge of said web portion; the improvement comprising onlyone of said flanges having accommodating means spaced verticallytherealong and offset from said web portion for removably accommodatingbrackets, and means associated with only the other of said flanges forengaging said stud with at least one of said members.
 2. The improvedstud as defined in claim 1, wherein said accommodating means includevertically spaced slots in said flange portion especially positioned andshaped to accommodate brackets inserted therein.
 3. The improved stud asdefined in claim 1, wherein the edge of the web portion opposite to saidone edge includes a single flange extending therefrom at an angle toprovide a supporting surface for a partition member opposite to themember engaged by said stud.